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Curtiss C-46 Commando

Curtiss · Transport · USA · WWII (1939–1945)

Curtiss C-46 Commando — Transport
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The Curtiss C-46 Commando was a U.S. twin-engine transport aircraft larger than the C-47 — designed specifically for the China-Burma-India "Hump" route over the Himalayas. Curtiss built 3,181 C-46s between 1942 and 1945. The C-46 carried about twice the payload of the C-47 (10,000 lb vs. 6,000 lb) and could fly higher (over 24,000 ft, important for crossing the Himalayan passes). However, the type was notoriously dangerous: about 31 C-46s were lost on Hump operations, often to engine fires from leaking fuel that pooled in unventilated wing-root sections. Post-WWII the C-46 served the Korean War, Berlin Airlift, and continued in Latin American smuggling and bush-flying service into the 1990s.

The C-46 used two Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp 18-cylinder radials (2,000 hp each — much more powerful than the C-47's R-1830s). Maximum speed 245 mph; range 1,200 miles; service ceiling 27,600 ft. Payload: 10,000 lb of cargo or 50 troops. The aircraft was developed from Curtiss's CW-20 commercial airliner concept of 1937; the Army accepted the prototype in 1940 and rushed it into mass production after Pearl Harbor without resolving fundamental airframe issues. The result was a powerful but dangerous aircraft whose combat-related accident rate exceeded its enemy-action loss rate.

The Hump route operations 1942-1945 are the C-46's defining role. The aircraft flew 700,000 tonnes of supplies over the Himalayas to support Chiang Kai-shek's Republic of China forces and U.S. 14th Air Force operations against Japan. Hump altitudes routinely exceeded 16,000 ft (some peaks above 17,000 ft); icing, monsoon weather, and Japanese fighter interception made the route extraordinarily dangerous. About 600 Hump aircraft (mostly C-46s and C-47s) were lost during the 1942-1945 operations — a 25% airframe attrition rate. The C-46's larger payload meant the type carried about 60% of total Hump tonnage despite higher loss rates than the C-47.

Production ended in 1945 after 3,181 airframes. Post-war C-46s continued in U.S. Air Force service through the Korean War (Berlin Airlift, Korean MEDEVAC operations) before retirement in 1953. About 60 C-46s survived into civilian service from the 1950s onward, mostly with Latin American bush operators and (notoriously) drug-smuggling operators who valued the high payload and rough-field operating capability. About 12 C-46 airframes remain in active service as bush freighters in 2026, mostly in Alaska, the Yukon, and northern Canada.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Curtiss C-46 Commando was an American twin-engine transport airplane from World War II. The C-46 was bigger and stronger than the more-famous C-47, with more cargo space and a more-powerful engine. Pilots nicknamed it the "Whale" because of its bulky body.

The C-46 is about 76 feet long — longer than two school buses. Two big Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engines. Top speed 269 mph. The C-46 could carry 33,000 pounds of cargo — more than twice as much as the C-47.

The C-46's most-famous job was flying "the Hump" — the dangerous WWII air route from India to China over the Himalaya mountains. C-46s could carry more cargo at higher altitudes than the C-47, making them the workhorse of the Hump. About 600,000 tons of supplies crossed the Hump between 1942 and 1945; many C-46s were lost to bad weather and Japanese fighters.

About 3,180 C-46s were built between 1940 and 1945. The C-46 had a tough WWII service record but never became as famous as the C-47. After WWII, most C-46s retired quickly — they were complicated and expensive to operate compared to the simpler C-47. A few C-46s flew as cargo planes in Latin America and Africa into the 1990s. About 15 C-46s survive today, with 2-3 still flying.

Fun Facts

  • The C-46 Commando was bigger and stronger than the more-famous C-47.
  • About 3,180 C-46s were built between 1940 and 1945.
  • The C-46 could carry 33,000 pounds of cargo — more than twice as much as the C-47.
  • C-46s were the workhorse of flying "the Hump" — the WWII air route over the Himalayas from India to China.
  • Top speed 269 mph — faster than the C-47.
  • Pilots nicknamed the C-46 the "Whale" because of its bulky body.
  • A few C-46s flew as cargo planes in Latin America and Africa into the 1990s.

Kids’ Questions

Why was the C-47 more famous than the C-46?

Three reasons. First, the C-47 was more reliable — its older, simpler design rarely broke down, while the C-46's more-powerful engines were tricky. Second, the C-47 was cheaper to operate, so airlines kept flying them after WWII while C-46s mostly retired. Third, the C-47 dropped paratroopers on D-Day and other famous missions — the C-46 mainly worked on "the Hump" which got less publicity. Fourth, more C-47s survived after the war (10,000 built vs 3,180 C-46s), so more people saw them. The C-47/DC-3 became one of aviation's most-famous airplanes; the C-46 became a footnote.

Why was 'the Hump' so deadly?

The Hump was the WWII air supply route from India to China over the Himalaya mountains — the highest mountains in the world. Several things made it dangerous. First, weather: bad weather, high winds, thunderstorms, and ice that could bring an airplane down. Second, altitude: airplanes had to fly at 15,000-20,000 feet altitude where the air is so thin engines lose power. Third, no good maps or radio aids. Fourth, Japanese fighters sometimes attacked from below. About 1,659 aircraft were lost flying the Hump 1942-1945. The C-46 was the workhorse — its bigger engines could fly higher than the C-47.

Variants

C-46A / C-46D / C-46F
Standard production sub-variants. C-46A (1,491 built) was the most-numerous WWII variant. C-46D (1,410 built) had the larger double-cargo door. R-2800-51 engines.
R5C-1 (US Marine Corps)
Marine Corps designation for C-46A. About 160 delivered. Used by Marine Aircraft Group 25 in Pacific Theater airlift operations.

Notable Operators

U.S. Army Air Forces / U.S. Air Force
Primary user. Major service: China-Burma-India 'Hump' route 1942-1945 + Korean War MEDEVAC + Berlin Airlift. Retired by USAF in 1953.
U.S. Marine Corps (R5C-1)
About 160 R5C-1 airframes 1944-1953. Used in Pacific Theater airlift and Korean War transport service.
Civilian bush operators (~12 still active in 2026)
About 60 C-46s entered civilian service from the 1950s onward. About 12 remain in active service as bush freighters in 2026 — mostly in Alaska, the Yukon, and northern Canada hauling fuel and supplies to remote settlements. Operators include Buffalo Airways and several smaller Yukon companies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the China-Burma-India Hump route?

The 1942-1945 USAAF airlift route from Assam, India over the Himalayas to Kunming, China, established after Japanese forces cut the Burma Road overland supply route in May 1942. The Hump delivered 700,000 tonnes of supplies to Chinese forces and U.S. 14th Air Force operations against Japan. Mountain altitudes routinely exceeded 16,000 ft; icing, monsoon weather, and Japanese fighters made the route extraordinarily dangerous. About 600 aircraft (mostly C-46s and C-47s) were lost over the Hump.

Why was the C-46 dangerous?

Engine fires from leaking fuel that pooled in unventilated wing-root sections were the primary problem. The R-2800 Double Wasp engines vibrated extensively in flight, loosening fuel-line connections; leaked fuel drained into wing cavities where any spark could ignite a catastrophic fire. About 31 C-46s were lost on the Hump alone to fuel-related fires. Post-war modifications added wing-cavity ventilation drains that resolved the issue.

How is the C-46 different from the C-47?

The C-46 is much larger and more powerful: twin R-2800 engines (vs. C-47's R-1830), 10,000 lb payload (vs. C-47's 6,000), 27,600 ft service ceiling (vs. 26,400). The C-47 was easier to fly, more reliable, and cheaper; the C-46 carried twice the cargo at higher altitude. Both were used extensively in WWII; the C-47 became iconic, the C-46 became infamous.

Are C-46s still flying?

Yes — about 12 C-46s remain in active service as bush freighters in 2026, mostly in Alaska, the Yukon, and northern Canada. Buffalo Airways (Yellowknife, Northwest Territories) is the most-famous current operator. The aircraft's high payload and rough-field operating capability make it valuable for remote-area resupply where road and rail access are unavailable.

How many C-46 Commandos were built?

3,181 airframes between 1942 and 1945 — far fewer than the C-47's 10,000+. Production was at Curtiss's Buffalo, New York and Louisville, Kentucky plants. Production ended in 1945 with no post-war run.

Sources

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